Choosing a good DAWless mixer?

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DAWless mixers? What are they?

When choosing a mixer - there's a lot out there, and it can be a little overwhelming. When you are not using a digital audio workstation (DAW), it can be even more difficult. A lot of mixers come with DAW integration and rely on this marriage to achieve the higher functionality. So if you are a DAWless producer - what is a good guide to choosing a mixer? Where do you start?

This video shows just one recommendation - the PreSonus StudioLive AR16. However, if you think about the features I mention and try to apply these ideas to other brands on the market. You'll soon discover there's a good rule of thumb for choosing DAWless mixers!

Top 5 things to look for in a DAWless mixer

So what are some good things to look for when choosing a mixer for your DAWless setup? I look beyond the normal list of mixer features like number of channels, features, bells and whistles - and talk straight about what we actually need:

1 - The Sound
The sound is paramount. The mixer will have an output sound that differes from one brand/model to another. You need to listen to them, compare and go with your ears. You wont have a computer to fix any audio on the way in - so the mixer is your last resort to getting the sound right.

2 - AUX Inputs
In reality, a DAWless producer is going to be using outboard FX. Choosing your outboard FX is easy - but integrating them so you have varying control can be a job the right mixing desk can do for you - and do it well! I would always recommend you have channel inserts and at least one stereo AUX channel to send to an FX chain. minimum!

3 - Onboard recording
The ability for the mixer to record directly to media (like an SD card) is an awesome benefit. If you can record the main mix (as a bare minimum), you're getting your jams and songs recorded without any effort. If you can find a mixer that can multi-track record - than even better! However, these usually have the higher price tags :) Keeping it simple sometimes makes life easier and you getting back to writing your tunes.

4 - Audio treatments
When you are DAWless, you need to be able to treat your inputs to tone them down, or up! Having the ability to adjust EQ, compression and other features like input gain, pan, and filters can make your life much easier - especially if they're done well. At the very least, you should look for at least a 3 band EQ and pan controls. However, I like to have more arsenal in my mixer than just those.

5 - Interface design
A lot of people overlook this. The mixer has to be user friendly. It has to have a layout that makes life easy, functional and best of all enjoyable! Look for a layout that makes sense to you - so it doesn't slow you down when you are working. Go with a design that fits your fingers, feels like it will last. You know how rough you can be, will it survive you in the middle of a live performance? Will it work in light and in the dark? Is it portable?

Digital or analog?

Just because you're now going DAWless, does it mean you should overlook digital mixers? Doesn't that mean that they are used with a computer?

No, digital mixers use digital signal processing (DSP) inside to treat your audio inputs. Unless you choose a mixer that is specifically geared towards being used with a DAW like Ableton or ProTools, choosing either digital or analog will largely depend on the features that mixer gives you.
At the time of writing this, I'm finding a hybrid analog and digital combination (like the one recommended in the video) seems to be a happy medium - if you're an analog purist, your signal path remains analog. However, you get the benefits of digital recording, connectivity and DSP processing for other uses. The mixer can grow with you.

What mixer do you use?

Let me know in the comments below what mixer you are currently using and why. How do you find it? What mixer would you love to have?

Go check out the video :)

What are you waiting for, go watch the video :) Thanks for reading, and I hope we can chat in the comments below!

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